real life, real blogging // jess

{Hey there! I'm guest posting for Lucia while she's holidaying it up. I'm Jess from over at Yours Truly. So, thanks for putting up with me! Three cheers for how amazing Lucia is?}

Real life. Real blogging.

This has been on my mind lately. In the blogging world, we all have a tendency to make life look glamorous and easy and beautiful. And, at times, it is. But, at other times, life is not. Life, quite a lot of the time, is embarrassing, awkward, hard and just...well, not pretty.

I'm not going to make this post utterly depressing and I-hate-my-life-and-I'll-die-any-minute-now. Don't get me wrong; I love my life and I am happy, satisfied and content in it. So don't feel as though you're gonna be crying at the end. I mean, you can if you want to, of course. But that's up to you. On second thoughts, maybe not.

I'm going to speak for myself, but please tell me if you agree and if sometimes, we bloggers, deceive ourselves and others.

I don't wake up every morning, smiling at the sunshine and skipping into the kitchen and sitting in the dewy sunlight that streams into the kitchen while I make my morning coffee.

That's a nice thought, but really? Sometimes I wake up too late, stumble out of bed, groan at my messy hair and imperfections and then go into the kitchen to make myself a normal cup of tea and to sit down on the couch when the sky is grey and rainy outside.

When I throw my hair into a messy bun, wear hardly any make-up, chuck on some track-pants and a t-shirt, it doesn't look fashionable and I don't look amazing. It isn't glamorous, but it is life and it's okay.

I don't have money to throw around, I live in a house that is being renovated and doesn't look fantastic all the time, I have to do dishes and sometimes my bedroom is a mess. Okay, so sometimes my bedroom is a sea of things that I didn't even know I possessed.

I don't paint and draw and sew and do all things. Coz I'm not superwoman. At least, I don't think I am - but then again, I do make brownies...

My hair sometimes looks shocking all day (and then, at night, just before I go to bed, my hair looks amazing. does that happen to anyone else?) and sometimes I look and feel tired.

But guess what guys? That is totally okay! We all have lives that are wonderful at times, and very unglamorous at other times. Let's not be those I-live-a-perfect-life-and-nothing-goes-wrong-even-my-bad-days-are-good-days people. Let's really be real. And. Embarrassing life stories are the funniest. Who ever laughed with a perfect person about a perfect day? No one, that's who.

Tell me about some of your "real" life! I would really, really, really like to know. 
Oh, and I know that some other bloggers tackled this yesterday, but I drafted this post/took these pictures days ago, so I promise that I'm not copying. Pinky-promise. And we all know that pinky-promises are like Thor's hammer. The end.

heyheyhey. I'm Jess. I'm ridiculous. and way too talkative. and crazy loyal to my country.

I take photos, I write stories, I sing songs, I play music. and I love Jesus. so much. I am a New Zealander living in England. New Zealand is lovely. England is....cold.

I write about real life, lovely life, beautiful life, awkward life (there's lots of that, I can tell you) and amazing people.

I blog over at Yours Truly, so pop over why dontcha and say hullo! 

the 2012 jar // abby

I have this jar.  I call it my happy 2012 jar.  I write down everything that makes me happy in the year 2012 and put in this jar.  sometimes it's big events, like driving for the first time, sometimes it's the smaller things that makes life the best ever - like the first BBQ outside, or the sunshine being out.

I think it's important to document what makes you happy or filled with joy - especially the little things.  the little things that we soon find out aren't so little. 

 I'm Abby.  14 year old homeschooled girl.  I sing in the shower.  I'm really short - 5' 1".  I love to capture simplicity in my writing and photography.  Going to Hogwarts is at the top of my to-do list, and so is meeting Flynn Rider. Happy endings are the best.  I love to make people smile.  Jesus is my Savior.  Come visit me sometime.

follow God - every day

   

sweet strawberry ice cream // lauren

Warm days call for cold ice cream.

Lately, I've gotten rather discouraged by looking at the labels of store bought ice cream.  Most of it is laden with artificial flavors and unhealthy corn syrup!  What ever happened to good ol' fashion, freshly churned ice cream?  Enough was enough.  I decided to make my own.

Sweet Strawberry Ice Cream

ice cream
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 pound frozen strawberries
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

whipped cream 
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

directions
In a blender, combine all ingredients for the ice cream.  Blend until smooth.  [note: a high-powered blender like a Vitamix or a Blendtec will yield the best results.]  The finished consistency may be too soft, so you might need to stick your ice cream in the freezer for a few hours, stirring occasionally until it firms up.

In a separate bowl, whip the cream and powdered sugar on high until stiff peaks form.  Top your ice cream liberally with whipped cream and enjoy!



Thanks for letting me contribute, Lucia!  :)




Lauren is a thankful daughter, saved by the matchless grace of her Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed to have been educated at home, she now delights in serving her family as she strives to grow in godliness and continues learning to be a keeper at home. Working in her family’s homeschool book business provides her with plenty of opportunities for growth and sanctification. Lauren is an avid lover of homemaking, photography, the family economy, and good coffee. You can find her over at A Corner Pillar, where she blogs about life, homemaking, and the goodness of the Lord.